I Am Your Puppet, You Thief Of Sleep

This is an older work. I though it was time to bring this one out.

I Am Your Puppet, You Thief Of Sleep

a poem by Chris T.

My thoughts run through my mind

like a marathon runner who pushes past the wall

Excerpts of today, yesterday and right now

Fill up behind my eyes and push my lids open

 

Up and down and pulsing with frenetic movement

You won’t quit: you 24 hr picture show

I starve you, I exhaust you, I medicate you

But your power over me is complete

 

I exist in a waking dreamland

and an intensely focussed night-time

Your attack on my sleep comes in waves

Like a four-star general’s war plan

 

You drain the enjoyment of my play

Like a faucet that can’t be tightened any more

Drip,drip,dreary

Eyes begin to close while driving

 

I view my world through puffy eyes and illusions

No amount of head shaking and cheek slapping

Can clear your enormous cob-web

I am caught in your effort

 

Oh Insomnia,

In the day, I can hear your siren’s call to my slumber

In the night, you are a lover who wishes just to  fight

Time gets turned on its head

 

I age more rapidly

No nourishment of rest, no replenishment of the day’s efforts

The mirror reflects a stranger

A ghost who I feel I know in my heart, but can’t recognize its features

 

Cruel but cunning is your way

You addict to caffeine and enjoy its ravenous crash

Each day you sew another string to your marionette

lifting each limb with a terrible jerk

 

Great scissors, where are you

The giant pair my mother told me not to run with

Take your leading edge and cut from me my strings

Then the pressure will release and I will softly fall into deep slumber

Author's Note

his is poem about my terrible fight with insomnia. I hope someone out there can relate to this thief of peace. If it ministers to you in any way, please leave a comment.

Reviews

[Maryum Mazhar]

Insomnia.

A weird thing to write about but that's what makes this poem beautiful
100/100

[Beautifully Tragic xPoe..]

Loved this! I've had some bouts with insomnia myself so I can certainly relate to this. A clever piece, wonderfully penned. Nicely done.

[Sakib]

Yes, I can relate to it. I'm still suffering this. Your poem just expressed what I feel about it. This is a nice evocative poem. I enjoyed it. Great write.

[Don Shaw]

Great work here. I can totally relate.

[Kat Collins]

You definitely capture the draining presence of insomnia. I was diagnosed with this a few years ago and it's a beast. Exhausted all the time, nothing seems to help. I've gone to great lengths to try and get some sleep! Add it to chronic fatigue of fibromyalgia and what joy, what bliss. Medication has provided some respite, as well as blocking all light, loud white noise, comfortable temperatures, and so on. Thanks for bringing this to light (so to speak).

A slight critique - the word "focussed" is spelled wrong...should be focused. :)

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

You really described your insomnia troubles so well...
This reminds me of this other person I know who goes through it every night.

[Thea]

Clever idea...A fine writing...I have an insomnia too and I really hate it!!! Haha...Nice poem... :)))

[Alexis suzzanne]

I love that I can picture the story in my mind, You have a gift! Let it be known as a beautiful relief of a writers imagination.

[Jazz]

A brilliant piece of writing here. Your sense of frustration is conveyed clearly. I love the metaphor of being Insomnia's puppet, it's really effective. I've never had full blown insomnia but I've had periods, such as when my exams were approaching, where I couldn't sleep well at all so I can relate to the feeling like every movement is an unnatural one, when all you want to do is sleep. I hope you one day find a cure. Thank you for sharing.